St. Matthew's Messenger St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church

115 E. Penn Street, Martinsburg, PA 16662-1127 Phone 814.793.2413 ● Fax 814.614-4003 ●e-mail stmatthewluth@aol.com ●web: www.stmatthewlc.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stmatthewlc

Volume 60 March 2020 Number 3

Greetings Siblings in Christ:

A friend who needed to write a devotion for an event at the beginning of

Lent asked me what I thought her audience—Christians who don’t

usually observe Lent as Lutherans do—needed to know about this

season. I gave her a little more extensive of an answer than she may

have wanted, but it got me thinking about this time during the church

year, which is unique as a liturgical season, and certainly countercultural, but really

shouldn’t be so different for us than the other 46 weeks of the year.

The church has long observed Lent as a penitential season for prayer, charity, and fasting. Of

course, that is not to say that these disciplines should only be part of our spiritual practice

during Lent. These are the good works to which we are called through baptism, and baptism

is a calling for all seasons of life. When we remember our baptismal calling, we see that to

forgo the ways of the world in order to live into the way of Christ is not just our Lenten

charge but the work of our whole lives. So, we might think of Lent as less for penitence

(feeling sorry for not following God’s way) than for repentance (reorienting our thoughts,

words, and deeds into the direction God is calling). Lenten discipline helps us live out that

repentance.

Yet, Lent is not intended to be a marathon for exercising greater-than-normal willpower; it is

not limited to six weeks because God doesn’t expect us to behave well for longer than that.

The cross that waits for Jesus at the end of Lent reminds us that our willpower is beside the

point, because it will never be sufficient. However, Lent is a good time to remember that

through baptism we receive the promise and power of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is

capable of doing more amazing work in us than we usually think. If we use these 40 days to

intentionally remind ourselves of that—and prayer, charity, and fasting are good

reminders—then we may find when Easter comes that we have trained ourselves to look

more hopefully at how God can work through our lives for the sake of the world.

May this season be for us all a time when our faith is renewed, so we may live more fully into

the holiness and righteousness to which God calls us.

+Pastor Traci

We, at the Martinsburg Food Pantry, want to thank

the Social Ministry Committee for their kindness

and thoughtfulness by initiating “Birthday for Jesus

Bags” during Advent!

Our many thanks to St. Matthew members who

purchased birthday party items for 23 colorful bags!

These will be distributed to children having a

birthday each month that we are sure will bring

smiles to the Food Pantry families!

God’s Blessings, Linda K. Smith, Manager

*************************

Thank you for your generous gift of $160.00 to the

ELCA ministries through the ELCA Good Gifts.

Rachel Wind, Exe. For Development

*************************

Dear St. Matthews Lutheran Church,

Thank you for giving the children in the community

the hats, gloves and scarves. Sincerely, Levi

*************************

Prayers and Congratulations

go to Carlos and Amanda Lamborn upon

the birth of a son, Quintin Santiago, on

Friday, January 24, 2020. Quintin’s

sister is Eloise and grandparents are Mike and

Connie Lamborn.

Prayer Vigil Scheduled at St. Matthew Lutheran

Church on Friday, April 10th

, from 6:00

a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Members are asked to

commit one half hour to pray for any concerns of a

personal, church, or worldwide nature. We hope to

have enough participation to fill a twelve-hour time

period with continuous prayer. The sign-up sheet is

located on the bulletin board in the Narthex. This

is an excellent way for you to enrich your spiritual

and prayer life. You may pray either at the church

or at home. If you would like to participate and

can’t come to the church to sign up please call the

church office at 793-2413.

Sequanota Upcoming Events There are a variety of events scheduled this

spring for both youth and adults. Please help us

spread the word to your congregation. Posters for

the retreats are linked.

Wacky Bowling Fundraiser -

Somerset: March 7

Wacky Bowling Fundraiser -

Johnstown: March 8

Young Adult Retreat: March 13-15

Men on a Mission: March 28-29

More details can be found in the newsletter/bulletin

insert or on our upcoming events webpage.

Sequanota Updates The Capital Campaign Continues The campaign has seen the major renovations of

the Bowersox Retreat Center, the 360,000

gallon swimming pool, cabin improvements,

and property upgrades including the waste water

treatment system. We have raised over $800,000

towards our $1.2 million goal.

Summer Camp 2020 Online registration is open. Look for brochures

sent to your congregation in early February.

Staff applications are open for Summer 2020 Do you know a high school or college age

young adult that loves working with kids,

playing games, growing their faith, and making

amazing new friends? Encourage them to apply

to work at camp this summer.

Plan a Congregational or Council Retreat at

Sequanota Are you looking to nurture the faith of your

congregation and engage them in discipleship

and stewardship?

Transportation to Sunday

Worship Services The “Monthly Driver”

For the month of March

Les Loomis – 570-885-0572

If you need to cancel or request a ride to church

please call the person that is listed above or in the

weekly bulletin by Saturday afternoon.

A Stewardship Minute

March 2020 Sometimes when we are reading something,

especially Christian literature, certain sentences

seem to leap off the page and begin to bring

enlightenment to our minds. Listen to this

fascinating statement:

“God gives to us not to make us

thankful but to make us generous and

useful to him and others.”

Now obviously when something good

happens to us, when God seems to be pouring

out blessing after blessing, we are very grateful.

And surely most of us will take time to express

our gratitude to God. That is a good response, of

course. In less obvious circumstances, however,

we often don’t express gratitude for the many

blessings bestowed upon us by God.

Thanksgiving follows the realization that all we

have was given to us by God. God gives us

these things not to make us thankful, but to

make us useful! It becomes clear … in fact it is

inescapable … that genuine thankfulness and

good stewardship are inseparably related.

This month’s issue of Stewardship goes on

to point out that by any name, what we

EXPRESS to God about what has been given to

us is called “Thanksgiving”. What we DO with

all of it is called “Stewardship”. It is to love

God with our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

After all, is that not the way Christ loves us?

Prayer: Gracious God, keep reminding us that we

are not only to be grateful to you, but to submit

ourselves as faithful stewards on your behalf.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saturday, March 7

th before you go to bed.

Lenten Schedule

Meager Meals are scheduled every Wednesday at

6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall with the Holden

Lenten Service to follow in the Fellowship Hall.

Wed., March 4, Holden Service 7:00 p.m.

Wed., March 11, Holden Service 7:00 p.m.

Wed., March 18, Holden Service 7:00 p.m.

Wed., March 25, Holden Service 7:00 p.m.

Wed., April 1, Holden Service 7:00 p.m.

Sun., April 5, Palm Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Wed., April 8, Holden Service 7:00 p.m.

The following services will be in the Sanctuary:

Thurs., April 9, Maundy Thursday 7:00 p.m.

Fri., April 10, Tenebrae Service 7:00 p.m.

Sat., April 11, Easter Vigil 7:00 p.m.

Sun., April 12, Easter Sunday 10:30 a.m.

The Allegheny Synod 40,000 Can Challenge

Final Count For 2019-2020 our total collected

was 40,432!!! We had a great year

and were able to help a lot of people. In fact, over

the last 5 years we have collected over a quarter

million, 263,327 to be exact

Martinsburg Food Pantry Volunteers from Martinsburg Grace Brethren

Church will be helping to distribute food

items on the first and third Thursdays, March

5 and March 19. The Food Pantry will be open

from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., and on the third

Thursday at 5:00 p.m. by appointment only.

Many thanks for your donations to the Souper

Bowl Challenge! The total contributed from

St. Matthew Lutheran Church is 18 cans and

$184.28 in monetary donations making the

final total for the Can Challenge $792.28 and

186 cans.

The March items most needed are: Juice,

Cereal, Pasta Sides, Fruit, Peanut Butter

and Paper Towels.

These or any items can be placed in the basket

at the church. Thank you!

Linda Smith

Community Meal

The meals are offered monthly free of charge. The

annual calendar meal menu is posted on the Narthex

bulletin board. There is a donation jar if you wish to

support the Community Meal Ministry. They

appreciate your presence and hope that the meal and

the fellowship you encounter is as much a blessing

to you as it is to them. The meal is offered by St.

John’s UCC, 117 E. Julian Street. The meal is on

the 3rd

Thursday of every month from 4:00-6:00

p.m. The meal on March 19, 2020 is “Pork &

Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes, Dessert”.

Attendance for January 2020

Date Church SCS

01/05 70 12

01/12 79 29

01/19 55 20

01/26 97 22

Average Sunday Worship – 75(4

wks.) Average Sunday Worship 2019–

82 (4 wks.)

Average Sunday School – 21 (4 wks.)

Average Sunday School for 2019 – 22 (4 wks.)

Chapel Communion Attendance for January 2020 – 9

Boy Scout Troop #358

Saturday, March 7, 2020

St. Matthew Fellowship Hall

7:00-10:00 a.m.

All You Can Eat

Free Will Offering

Transformational Ministry Each month and on a daily basis, we ask you

to join us in prayer. Our March special prayer

request:

We pray for those families both in the USA and

China who have tragically been affected by the

deadly coronavirus. We ask that the international

community of scientists, medical researchers and

physicians be given the tools to fight this virus

before it truly becomes a pandemic. We are

reminded that we are vulnerable as citizens of the

universe and not just bound to national and

political interests. Hear our prayer. Amen

Fellowship Committee Change

Last year a group here at St. Matthew reviewed our

constitution and made some changes in our bylaws.

I want to talk briefly about one of those changes -

the decision to make Fellowship a Congregational

Committee instead of a Council Committee. I want

to ask for your input and ideas in making that

change work.

By making Fellowship a Congregational Committee

we hope to revitalize the Fellowship Committee, to

find ways to keep doing the events that add so much

to our church life. Things like Meager Meals during

Lent, the annual Congregational Dinner and

summer picnic, funeral meals and youth events, to

name a few.

This is an opportunity for more people to get

involved in the outreach Fellowship does. If you

have a particular event you want to help with, or if

you have an idea for new events, talk to me. What

we need most is a faithful commitment to do God’s

Work with Our Hands.

The group that reviewed the bylaws feels a sense of

urgency about trying this new way of organizing the

Fellowship Committee. But without the help and

support of you, the members of the congregation, no

configuration of Fellowship will work. Ask

yourself, how important are these Fellowship events

to our church life and your personal life? What can

we do to keep them thriving and growing? How can

the Fellowship Committee bind us together in grace

and community? Connie Lamborn, 793-4212

Birthdays for March 1 Rebecca Moore

2 Sal I. Lamborn

3 Linda L. Lehman

Andrew M. Riley

5 M. Jane Staily

6 Patricia Russell

7 Herbert Brown

Gerald R. Hoover

Alex Snyder

9 Brock Frederick

10 Sadie Freyer

Jessica Orczeck

10 Sondra Ursiak

11 Ann Irvin

Audrey L. Kensinger

Daniel S. Kensinger

12 Alan A. Brubaker

Pat Mountain

13 Misty J. Smith

Rhyvan Tremmel

Katie Zimmerman

16 Roy W. Creps

17 Sharon E. Frederick

20 Thomas D. Brown

22 Matthew K. Buchart

23 Lucas Jon Gilbert

25 Betty Selby

26 Kay L. McGraw

28 Erik B. Snyder

29 Erin N. Gates

Dean S. Hinish

Anniversaries in March 8 Dwight & Yong Mi Johnson

9 Thomas D. & Linda J. Brown

11 Daniel S. & Audrey L. Kensinger

On Eagle’s Wings Searching for Bible

Camp Teachers On Eagle’s Wings is looking for

a team to help with Bible Camp

this year. If interested please

contact the church office at 793-2413 or

stmatthewluth@aol.com.

Change of Address Rev. Ed Harshbarger

1641 Timberline Dr

Altoona, PA 16601-9526

Nancy Uber

437 Givler Dr # 310

Martinsburg, PA 16662-1635

D. Scott & Sandy Swanson

130 Happy Trails S

Las Cruces, NM 88005-8227

Louise Frederick

756 Frederick Rd

Roaring Spring, PA 16673-8307

16 Nicholas & Erin Gates

Jeffrey & Sharon Hicks

22 Jack & Kay Howsare

25 Bill & Betty Selby

SAVE THE DATE!

April 18, 2020 Allegheny Synodical Women’s Organization

32nd

Annual Convention

Duncansville Evangelical Lutheran Church

1200 4th

Ave., Duncansville, PA 16635

Registration only $15.00

Theme: “Keeping the Gift Alive”

Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 1:6-7

We will be commemorating the Anniversary of

the Ordination of Women. Look for more

information on the Synod Website.

Alzheimers & Related Dementia Support Group

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

3:00 p.m. in the Club Room at Homewood

(3rd

floor of Northview Apartments)

Come and share your stories and advice with others

who have a loved one with dementia! Contact Erin

Weaver, Social Services, with questions at 814-793-

1338 or eeweaver@hmwd.org

Growing Stewards – Part 2 OUT We look out to see how God is calling us to love our neighbor with all that God has entrusted to our care. We

are a church that believes Jesus is God’s “Yes” to us. Our lives can be a “Yes” to others. Stewardship is one

way that we can be that “Yes” to others. When asked: “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus responds,

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is

the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”

(Matthew 22:37-39). We are called to love, not just with our words but with our whole lives.

Stewardship is the way that we use all of our resources — time, talents, possessions and money — to love God

and our neighbor. The Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 exemplifies this type of stewardship.

The Samaritan gave generously of his time, his possessions, and his money. He took a detour from his own

travels just to help a hurting man, who was more of an enemy than a friend. Stewardship transforms God’s

commandment to “love our neighbors as ourselves” from a religious expression into a way of life.

THE SHIFT This new approach to stewardship requires a large shift in the way that we think and talk about stewardship:

“Stewardship is about you “Stewardship is about loving God paying the bills.” and my neighbor.”

“Stewardship is about money.” “Stewardship is about my whole self.”

“How much of what is mine’ “How much of what is God’s should I give away?” should I keep for myself?”

“We don’t have enough.” “God has provided for us in abundance.”

The new approach to stewardship is not primarily about paying the congregation’s bills. Instead stewardship is

about how the congregation together can do God’s work. It is about how the congregation can together live out

God’s call to love God and our neighbors. Stewardship is directly tied to discipleship. It is no longer about the

congregation’s need to receive, but about the giver’s need to give. Stewardship is a way of life. It is not just

about what is given to the congregation, but about how generous we are with all that God has entrusted to our

care both inside and outside of the church walls and in our homes.

Every congregation benefits as an active partner in the ELCA’s mission to share God’s boundless love with the

world. The stories of our congregations are filled with powerful examples of how lives have been changed

because of our generosity, particularly the benevolence that is shared from congregations to this church’s 65

synods and the churchwide organization. This is known as ELCA Mission Support.

In this way, the practice of stewardship becomes more holistic and occurs year-round. Stewardship can no

longer be used as a synonym for money, but extends to all of life, all of the gifts that God has entrusted to our

care. So, stewardship sermons, forums, and all other things stewardship-related must be intentionally holistic,

rather than sliding back into a sole focus on financial stewardship. It is a practice that is preached, discussed and

lived out at different times throughout the year.

THE BASICS REIMAGINE THE OFFERING Recognizing the offering as a joyful response to God's gifts, invite the congregation to reimagine the invitation

and receive the offering in creative new ways.

Altar Flower News Please make checks payable to St. Matthew Flower Fund and place in our mailbox, offering plate or Margie

Smith’s mailbox. The cost of the Altar Flowers remains the same at $30.00 for 2 vases. The 2019 Altar Flower

chart is posted on the Narthex bulletin board. The dates that are open are below:

(5/31,7/12,9/20,9/27,10/25,11/1,11/15,11/22)

Mary Nelson will contact you for the information you wish to be used in the bulletin. Committee members will

prepare your flowers to go home after worship. If you choose NOT to take the flowers home, please tell Mary

Nelson and we will give them to someone in the congregation or homebound.

SERVING GOD AND US March 2020

Date March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29

Acolytes Jace King Mace Baker Gabby Decker Jay Hoenstine Olivia Day

Rhyvan Tremmel

Ushers Jack Howsare

James Stewart

A J Hoenstine

Dennis Smith

Mike Lamborn

Michael Tremmel

John Russell

Shawn Orczeck

Youth Paul Helsel

John Lear

Dan Tremmel

TBD

Paul Helsel

Jeff Garner

Mike Lamborn

Ed Kreider

Altar Guild Jean Sinal

Jane Fagans

Jean Sinal

Jane Fagans

Jean Sinal

Jane Fagans

Jean Sinal

Jane Fagans

Jean Sinal

Jane Fagans

Lay Servers-

Assisting

Minister*

Steve Oswalt*

Kaye Burket

Jane Hoenstine*

Jim Barley

Youth Shawn Orczeck*

Laura Orczeck

Greg Haffling*

Mike Lamborn

Audio/Video Alex Snyder Max Baker Shawn Orczeck Camden Kuster Alex Snyder

Lectors Jack Howsare Audrey Stern Youth Mary Baker Allen Kuster

Offering

Counters

Linda Negley

Michele Smith

Linda Negley

Michele Smith

Linda Negley

Michele Smith

Linda Negley

Michele Smith

Linda Negley

Michele Smith

Greeters Peggy Freyer Nell Snyder Youth Mike & Connie

Lamborn

Audrey Hite

Lenten Meal Schedule – Meals start at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall

Date March 4 March 11 March 18 March 25 April 1

Hostess for Lenten

Meal

& Menu

Worship & Music

Ham & Cheese

Vegetable Soup

Evangelism/Social

Ministry Meal

Social Ministry TBD Staff Support

Chili & Corn Bread

Mid-Week Lenten Services 7:00 p.m. In the Fellowship Hall Date March 4 March 11 March 18 March 25

Lay Servers

Assist. Min.

Tina Harclerode Peggy Steinfurth Connie Lamborn Kaye Burket

Offering Counters Anna Klepser

TBD

Anna Klepser

TBD

Anna Klepser

TBD

Anna Klepser

TBD

Cub Scout Pack #358 St. Matthew Fellowship Hall

Saturday, March 14, 2020 8:30 a.m.

The pinewood derby is a racing event for unpowered, unmanned miniature

cars. Pinewood derbies are often run by chapters (packs) of the Cub

Scouts program of Boy Scouts of America. With the help of adults, Scouts

build their own cars from wood, usually from kits containing a block of pine wood, plastic wheels, and

metal axles.

SAVE THE DATE!

Life Line Screening

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

2020 COUNCIL DIRECTORY AND MINISTRY STAFF

Pastor Rev. Traci Bowman 935-9267

Admin. Assist. Lori Tremmel 696-3802

Assist. Admin. Assist. Laura Orczeck 224-1208

President Melissa Fetzer 793-2735

Vice President Sheena Tremmel 515-2962

Secretary Elaine Smith (434) 981-0560

Treasurer Beth Garner 793-3966

Financial Secretary Anna Klepser 793-2094

Property Warren Daniel 935-9249

Christian Ed. Bonnie Casey 285-1610

Evangelism Les Loomis (570) 885-0572

Stewardship Greg Haffling 793-9827

Finance Jim Barley 793-4623

Social Ministry Peggy Freyer 614-4552

Worship & Music Jane Fagans 793-4401

Staff Support Kaye Burket 224-5224

HIGHLIGHTS BY COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY

1. Council is looking for a Male Voting Member for the June Synod Assembly. If interested please contact

Pastor Traci or the church office.

2. Camp Sequanota Sunday will be April 19, 2020.

3. Council agreed that High School and College Graduates will be recognized on Sunday, June 7, 2020.

4. St. Matthew switched with Church of God for VBS 2020. St. Matthew will host VBS this year with a

Sequanota Day Camp Theme.

Giving 2020 January Year to Date as of 1/31/2020

Current $15,173.38 Current $15,173.38

Benevolence (Synod) $1,539.50 Benevolence (Synod) $1,539.50

1st Qrt. Local Needs $1,089.00 1

st Qrt. Local Needs $1,089.00

2019 January Year to Date as of 1/31/19

Current $12,949.18 Current $12,949.18

Benevolence (Synod) $1,330.40 Benevolence (Synod) $1,330.40

Local Needs $972.50 1st Qrt. Local Needs $972.50

2020 Income vs Expenses

Current January Year to Date as of 1/31/2020 Actual ($791.09) ($791.09)

Per Budget ($3,457.70) ($3,457.70)

Benevolence

Per Commitment to Synod ($627.17) ($627.17)

Acolyte Leader Vacancy

The acolyte leader position will be vacant beginning July 1, 2020.

Responsibilities include:

Preparing and distributing the acolyte schedule

Training acolytes and keeping them informed of their duties.

Working with Worship and Music Committee chairperson for special worship services, i.e. Christmas and

Easter, etc.

The position does not involve a lot of time, and the youngsters serving as acolytes are a very capable and

enthusiastic group. They work well together and are very cooperative.

If you are interested in volunteering for this position please contact Jane Fagans 793-4401. Jane will be happy

to assist with the transition. Thank you for your consideration in assuming this role.

2020